With her new Young In All the Wrong Ways LP, Sara Watkins steps firmly out of the bluegrass frame and continues on a path of personal and musical evolution that sees the Nickel Creek co-founder declaring the strength of her own person. The album, which comes out Friday, July 1st via New West Records, is up on NPR Music’s First Listen for a week of advance streaming.

Listening to Sara Watkins and her band is a real treat for the ears. The former Nickel Creek fiddler writes songs that combine the frantic energy of bluegrass, the hooks of classic pop, and the immediate intimacy of adept singer-songwriters. It’s music to keep coming back to, as I often find myself doing over and over again. On Watkin’s most recent album (and sophomore solo release), Sun Midnight Sun, she shows off her vocal performance as often as her fiddling chops.

During our Folkadelphia session on March 30th, the day after her concert with Field Report (who we also recorded) at the Tin Angel, Sara appeared as a trio configuration featuring herself on vocals, fiddle, and guitar, her brother Sean Watkins on guitar and vocals, and Tyler Chester on bass and vocals. The stripped down format makes me feel like we’re listening to the band in a living room – mere feet from the song, like you could reach out and touch it. While you can’t touch them, let these four live cuts from Sun Midnight Sun touch, dance, and sing with you. I think you’ll be revisiting them for a long time to come.

Annachristie Sadler brings her new project Murchant to Puck Live in Doylestown tonight. Formerly one third of local folk collaborators Sisters 3, Sadler’s musical history includes backing up Hoots & Hellmouth and Hezekiah Jones, as well as recording a handful of full-lengths with her sibling bandmates. With Murchant, though, Sadler takes a turn from the three-part indie pop/folk harmonies of Sisters 3 and instead lends her soaring vocals to more mystical, acoustic arrangements. Tickets and information for tonight’s 21+ show with Reverend TJ McGlinchey can be found here. Watch Murchant perform in the NYC metro below.

If you missed out on scoring tickets to the now sold out Frank Ocean show at Union Transfer, fear not; there are myriad opportunities for you to get your music fix tonight.

Let’s start with Boston country/jazz-types Mornin’ Old Sport, who’ll be shacking up at PhilaMOCA along with a whole slew of good-time folky songsters. Also playing are local acts Liz & the Lost Boys, On the Water, and Joshua Alvarez. Admission is on a $7-10 sliding scale; show starts at 8. Listen to “Katie” from Mornin’ Old Sport’s forthcoming album below.

Singer-songwriter extraordinaire Jackson Browne will be plucking strings and crooning verses at the Academy of Music. Opening up the show is folk-and-fiddle hero Sara Watkins, whose latest album Sun Midnight Sun came out earlier this summer. Tickets are available here starting at $40. Stream “When It Pleases You”– from Sara Watkins’ latest album — below.

Rufus Wainwright and singer-songwriter Josh Ritter were scheduled to appear at the Festival Pier tonight. The show has been postponed, and a new date will be announced soon. Wainwright is touring to promote his latest album, Out Of The Game, out on Decca. Below, watch the video for the title track from Wrainwright’s Out Of The Game, featuring actress Helena Bonham Carter.

Jackson Browne is playing an acoustic show at the Academy of Music on Wednesday, July 25th. Sara Watkins, founding member of Nickel Creek, is opening the show. Tickets are on sale this coming Saturday, May 5th at 10AM. Go here for tickets and more information about the show. Below, watch a couple of our favorite classic songs from Browne.

About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH

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About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH